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Middle School Teachers Chatboard

Any good ideas for 8th grade LA Beginning of Year Activity?

by Andrea

Jul 28, 2012

Sorry if this is a duplicate.

I'm moving from teaching 7th grade LA to 8th this fall (I just found out).

I had some great beginning of the year activities for 7th grade, but I don't want to use them for 8th because I'll have some of my students again. Does anyone have a good opening activity that you use? Thanks.

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Julie Sara - great idea! Would you mind sharing the Faulkner sentence you're referring to? Thanks!

On 7/31/12, Sara wrote: > > I like to begin the year with a 'Two Word Sentence Contest'. > Write an interesting or even intruiging two word sentence. It > gives me the opportunity to say - again - a sentence has a > subject and pred...See More

Aug 2, 2012

Sara On 8/02/12, Julie wrote: > Sara - great idea! Would you mind sharing the Faulkner sentence > you're referring to? Thanks!

If you google it, it will tell you on what page that sentence is in Absalom, Absalom. I could not find the actual sentence on the web. It's 1,287 words long. It's rather a stream of consciousness sentence - it co...See More

Aug 2, 2012

Spelling in middle school?

by What do you do?

Jul 31, 2012

I don't think we have any organized spelling in our 6-8 middle school. Should there be? What does your school do for spelling?

I don't know about you but texting short hand has taken over and invaded writing. I get IDK on answers for tests too.

Just thinking out loud and wondering what you think.

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Lisa On 7/31/12, What do you do? wrote: > I don't think we have any organized spelling in our 6-8 > middle school. Should there be? What does your school do > for spelling? > > I don't know about you but texting short hand has taken > over and invaded writing. I get IDK on answers for tests > too. > > Just thinking out loud an...See More

Jul 31, 2012

Sara On 7/31/12, What do you do? wrote: > I don't think we have any organized spelling in our 6-8 > middle school. Should there be? What does your school do > for spelling? > > I don't know about you but texting short hand has taken > over and invaded writing. I get IDK on answers for tests > too. > > Just thinking out loud an...See More

Jul 31, 2012

Year long expression project

by Chris

Jul 31, 2012

I want to design an ever evolving, year long, expressive project for a class of 26. I want the foundation fornth project to be about them, their ideas, gols, emotions, fears, characteristics, etc through art, words, and so forth! I have the ability to use an entire classroom solely for this project and want the walls to be dedicated to this "I am t...See More

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Sara On 7/31/12, Chris wrote:

We do something similar - we have students write up their autobiographies in expository fashion and then also have them write their memoirs to their current point in life.

We read short biographies of prominent people, living and dead, to take a look at how people live their lives and spend their lives. M...See MoreOn 7/31/12, Chris wrote:

We do something similar - we have students write up their autobiographies in expository fashion and then also have them write their memoirs to their current point in life.

We read short biographies of prominent people, living and dead, to take a look at how people live their lives and spend their lives. Martin Luther King, Brad Pitt (believe it or not - he's quite a philanthropist when he could do nothing but make movies and spend the money he makes from movies)Thomas Edison, Jonas Salk - what drives such people? (Edison was likely bipolar) We discuss the concept of choices and living the 'intentional life'. How do we take life on? Passively? Do we live to serve? Do we work to live or live to work?

Then each student tries to find a personal hero (other than family members) and they present that person to the class as a hero and try to define the qualities of heroism they saw in the person.

Last but not least, each student does s "Real Life Project" which is their projection of how their adult life will really be. Life is not school - what will they do for a living?

Then very last, we ask them to articulate some cause to which they could devote some interest and maybe some time. Which of the dozens of volunteer opportunities would they consider? What thorny issue in the world or in our country would they see themselves as being able to contribute their interest? ( we don't ask them to donate to their causes)

Kids like the class. I'm sure they'll like yours too.

We encourage an 'independent learning project' for 3 weeks in which they can engage pretty much any project they want - one of my students taught himself to play the banjo. > I want to design an ever evolving, year long, expressive > project for a class of 26. I want the foundation fornth > project to be about them, their ideas, gols, emotions, > fears, characteristics, etc through art, words, and so > forth! I have the ability to use an entire classroom solely > for this project and want the walls to be dedicated to this > "I am that" project! I could use some help with more ideas > with this...or kind of centralizing everything. It's for an > 8th grade class.

Aug 2, 2012

Need a Certified Teacher to teach my son in our home

by Rachel

Aug 1, 2012

Looking for a Certified Teacher or Retired Teacher to teach and follow the Abeka academy program with my middle school age son, 7th grade , in my home 4hrs a day 4 days a wk. Florence, AL Please call ASAP 607-267-9961

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Alternative Seating for 6th graders

by teachermomof2

Aug 1, 2012

------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------

Another new year is approaching! I am planning on running my math classes a bit differently this year. I would like to do some small group work with the kids, while others work on games or math boxes (we will be using everyday math). Our desks are one piece s...See More

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froggybee Would crates be high enough? and sturdy enough? On 8/01/12, teachermomof2 wrote: > ------------------------------------------------------------ > -------------------- > > Another new year is approaching! I am planning on running > my math classes a bit differently this year. I would like > to do some small group work with the kids...See More

Aug 2, 2012

froggybee another thought: those balance balls! You might be able to find some at garage sales too! On 8/01/12, teachermomof2 wrote: > ------------------------------------------------------------ > -------------------- > > Another new year is approaching! I am planning on running > my math classes a bit differently this year. I would like >...See More

Aug 2, 2012

My struggling 7th grade

by Cynjit

Aug 5, 2012

Okay everyone...please give me some ideas.

I'm planning for next year..and I have been assigned my sixth grade class from last year. They are great kids...but have difficulty academically and a few behaviorally. It is a small class, but majority are reading/writing below grade level and/or receive special education services.

I o...See More

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Sara On 8/05/12, Cynjit wrote: > Okay everyone...please give me some ideas.

I'm not sure that struggling readers can be good writers - is that possible to be a good writer when you're still struggling to read? Your approach of last year sounds like the one that should be continued - they have to read to write. For writing, I'd focus on sent...See More

Aug 6, 2012

Some ideas What about something such as the Write Source as a guide to help these struggling kids? Maybe it can provide a basis for developing sentence and paragraph skills. Many poor readers and writers have problems visualizing words and what they are writing about.

Maybe develop some visualizing techniques?

Maybe try the book Unjournal...See More

Aug 8, 2012

10 Reasons to Work Hard in School by Steve Reifman

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Aug 8, 2012

Sometimes kids need it spelled out for them...be sure to share the article using the Twitter and Facebook widgets on the page.

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40 Alternative Assessments for Learning (elem. middle, high)

by Teachers.Net Gazette - by teachers, for teachers

Aug 8, 2012

Unique and effective ways to assess student learning without test sheets!

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How to Use Quotes to Promote Literacy Development - THIS ONE

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Aug 9, 2012

How to Use Quotes to Promote Literacy Development By Steve Reifman

In addition to its character-building mission, our “Quote of the Day” conversations also offer a powerful way to promote literacy. When I speak of literacy, I am referring to the specific skills of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and thinking. [Click below to rea...See More

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7 Ways to Encourage Reluctant Readers

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Aug 10, 2012

7 Ways to Encourage Reluctant Readers By Steve Reifman

By employing the strategies described below, reading will become something that students do willingly, even eagerly, and the adults in their lives will not have to resort to trickery, bribery, manipulation, or any other tactic that will, at best, lead to temporary compliance. After all...See More

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